Runny nose relief using self-care over-the-counter pharmacist's recommendation

Let's take care of this runny nose.

This assumes you are experiencing a runny nose for reasons other than a cold, flu or allergy situations.

With this in mind, see what is recommended for runny nose below.

Man blowing his nose

Antihistamine

If the runny nose is caused by histamine release as in allergy, an antihistamine should take care of it by blocking histamine getting to the cells.

There are 2 types of antihistamines used for runny nose, first generation (diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine) and second generation (loratadine, cetirizine, fexofenadine). The main difference is drowsiness caused by first-generation antihistamines.

If the runny nose is caused by a cold, stick with the first generation antihistamines. Second generation like loratadine, cetirizine or fexofenadine do not work for cold symptoms.

Saline rinse

There are different types.

The spray is to moisturize the nasal passages.
The rinse is used to thin the mucus that lines the passages so you can gently blow it out.

For runny nose, choose the rinse. Neti-pot is good if you are used to it, but for a quick job, get a sinus rinse with packets. Always use distilled water.

We suggest you include something like Alkalol® for a soothing effect.

Steroidal nasal spray

If you already experience runny nose, this is not going to work. It needs a few days to kick in. Average 5 days. So don't waste your money if you have not been using a steroidal nasal spray and currently have runny nose.

If you are prone to runny nose as in allergy, this has to be part of your treatment regimen. Daily use will be great for about 4 to 6 months a year.

Last updated by pharmacist on : 03/25/2018 at 08:25:pm

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Know this about the safe and effective use of this recommendation.

Our disclaimer

Recommendation is the opinion of a registered US Pharmacist currently practicing as a community pharmacist.
Recommendation is not an attempt to discuss all possible self care or treatment approach to this health challenge.
The responsibility of the recommending pharmacist is limited to this question:
"If a patient presents with these symptoms, what will you recommend and why?"
It is not an attempt to publish an article on the treatment of any condition. Just what would you tell a patient who present with so and so in the usual course of your practice.
The pharmacist image presented in this article may or may not be the actual image of the authoring pharmacist.
Because we insist on using articles written by currently practicing community pharmacists, these pharmacists may choose to remain anonymous especially if they are employed by an employer to avoid being pressured to recommend a particular product to drive sales.
Please read the policies and terms of use for self-care OTC, selfcarepharmacist.com and it's affiliates by clicking on the button below.

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